DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 427
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : We might differ on many matters in connection with this Code, but nobody’s purpose will be served— neither mine, nor yours—by trying to belittle our great ancient sages. They are not coming here for applause. They do not care for your radio propaganda and newspaper Hashes. They did what they considered to be in the best interests of the Community. If today you are going to make a daughter co-equal with the son in regard to inheritance, I am afraid a good deal of complications would arise. When the girl knows that she is getting a share in her father’s property, when her brothers know that their sister is a co-sharer and as such the property will pass off to some other family with her marriage, whose interest would it be to marry off the girl’? I want to know.
Shri H. V. Kamath : Her own.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : My honourable friend says it will be the girl’s own interest to marry as quickly as possible. I feel, Sir, that such a girl will find many a pitfall lying about her way.
Shrimati G. Durgabai: You distrust her ?
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : Not a question of distrust. The Hindu sages have provided that marriages should be negotiated in the best interests of the pair by the guardians of the pair.
Shrimati Renuka Ray : What did Shakuntala do ?
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra: I know that Shakuntala did not marry that way, but my friend and sister’s interruption reminds me of a story. A man had the Mahabharata and the Ramayana recited in his house for six months. Thereafter he asked his daughter. “You have heard the story. What is the lesson you derive ?” “Well,” replied the daughter, “from the Mahabharata I learn that I can have five husbands as Draupadi had five husbands.” From the whole of the Mahabharata this is all that she learnt. Enquired about the lesson she derived from the Ramayana the daughter in law replied, “It is very clear. As soon as my husband dies I can be married to my husband’s brother.” “You know what happened after Ravana died, his widow Mandodari married his brother Bibhisana.” Sir, according to Hindu Law there have been several systems of marriage. There was the Gandharva form of marriage for which we have not provided here, though we have the provisions in the Code for Civil Marriage to cover all manner of such cases. So, I say that in an ordinary Hindu house-hold, under this codified Hindu Law, you are going to bring about a change in the relationship between the various members. Is this going to make for the sweetness of relationship or peace in home life?